Cancer compendium: information and trends by cancer type

Web report

Last updated:30 Mar 2017

Author: AIHW

Enter the email address where you would like the PDF sent. This address will not be used for any other purpose.

This report present key data, information and trends over time for 14 key cancers and all cancers combined. For all cancers combined, the number of new cases of cancer diagnosed increased from 47,445 in 1982 to 124,465 in 2013. Individuals with cancer had an increased chance of survival (from 48% in 1984–1988 to 68% in 2009–2013) compared to their counterparts in the general Australian population.

Findings from this report:

At the end of 2012, 410,530 people were alive who had been diagnosed with cancer in the previous 5 years

134,174 new cancer cases were estimated to be diagnosed in 2017

5-year relative survival was 68% for all cancers combined in 2009–2013

Breast cancer in Australia

Breast cancer incorporates ICD–10 cancer code C50.

New cases of breast cancer

Breast cancer was the second most commonly diagnosed cancer in Australia in 2013. During 2013, it was also the most commonly diagnosed cancer in females. It is estimated that it will become the most commonly diagnosed cancer in 2017 among both persons and females. This is because the incidence of prostate cancer (which was the most commonly diagnosed cancer in 2013) is expected to continue to decline.

In 2013, there were 16,045 new cases of breast cancer diagnosed in Australia (142 males and 15,902 females). In 2017, it is estimated that 17,730 new cases of breast cancer will be diagnosed in Australia (144 males and 17,586 females).

In 2013, the age–standardised incidence rate was 64 cases per 100,000 persons (1.1 for males and 123 for females). In 2017, it is estimated that the age–standardised incidence rate will be 64 cases per 100,000 persons (1.0 for males and 124 for females). For females, the incidence rate of breast cancer is expected to increase with age until age group 65–69, before decreasing, while for males the incidence rate is expected to remain steady across ages.

In 2017, it is estimated that the risk of an individual being diagnosed with breast cancer by their 85th birthday will be 1 in 14 (1 in 715 males and 1 in 8 females).

The number of new cases of breast cancer diagnosed increased from 5,371 in 1982 (61 males and 5,310 females) to 16,045 in 2013. Over the same period, the age–standardised incidence rate increased from 44 cases per 100,000 persons (1.2 for males and 81 for females) in 1982 to 64 cases per 100,000 persons in 2013.

Estimated most common cancers diagnosed in 2017

Cancer type

New cases 2017

% of all new cancers 2017

Breast

17,730

13.2

Breast (among females)

17,586

28.4

Colorectal (bowel)

16,682

12.4

Prostate (among males)

16,665

23.1

Melanoma

13,941

10.4

Lung

12,434

9.3

Deaths from breast cancer

In 2014, breast cancer was the fourth leading cause of cancer death in Australia. During 2014, it was also the 2nd most common cause of death from cancer among females. It is estimated that it will remain the 4th most common cause of death from cancer in 2017 and the 2nd most common cause of death from cancer among females in 2017.

In 2014, there were 2,844 deaths from breast cancer in Australia (30 males and 2,814 females). In 2017, it is estimated that this will increase to 3,114 deaths (28 males and 3,087 females).

In 2014, the age–standardised mortality rate was 11 deaths per 100,000 persons (0.2 for males and 20 for females). In 2017, it is estimated that the age–standardised mortality rate will be 11 deaths per 100,000 persons (0.2 for males and 20 for females). The mortality rate of breast cancer will generally increase with age in females but remain steady across age groups for males.

In 2017, it is estimated that the risk of an individual dying from breast cancer by their 85th birthday will be 1 in 76 (1 in 3,582 males and 1 in 41 females).

The number of deaths from breast cancer increased from 1,435 (19 males and 1,416 females) in 1968 to 2,844 in 2014. Over the same period, the age–standardised mortality rate decreased from 17 deaths per 100,000 persons (0.5 for males and 30 for females) in 1968 to 11 deaths per 100,000 persons in 2014.

Survival from breast cancer

In 2009–2013 in Australia, individuals diagnosed with breast cancer had a 90% chance (85% for males and 90% for females) of surviving for 5 years compared to their counterparts in the general Australian population.

Between 1984–1988 and 2009–2013, 5-year relative survival from breast cancer improved from 72% to 90%.

Survivorship population for breast cancer

The survivorship population is measured using prevalence data. Prevalence refers to the number of people alive who have previously been diagnosed with breast cancer.

The prevalence for 1, 5 and 31 years given below are the number of people living with breast cancer at the end of 2012 who had been diagnosed in the preceding 1, 5 and 31 years respectively.

At the end of 2012, there were 15,092 people living who had been diagnosed with breast cancer that year, 65,976 people who had been diagnosed with breast cancer in the previous 5 years (from 2008 to 2012) and 193,730 people who had been diagnosed with breast cancer in the previous 31 years (from 1982 to 2012).